Time controlled selector mechanism for radio receivers



Jan. 9, 1945. H. c. GOODWIN 2,366,726

TIME CONTROLLED SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR RADIO RECEIVERS Filed April 25, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet l if ama/4M- Arr'qews/ Jan. 9, 1945 TIME CONTROLLED SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR RADIO RECEIVERS- PEGE/Yik H. c. eooowm 2,366,726

Filed April 25, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 loo Irrokws/ Jan. 9, 1945. H. c. GOODWIN 2,356,726

TIME CONTROLLED SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR RADIO RECEIVERS Filed April 25, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 llllllllllNll ll IIIIIHH] VEN 7- Hls/vlqv Q GIOODW/N Jan. 9, 1945. c, eoogwlrq 23%,?26

TIME CONTROLLED SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR RADIO RECEIVERS Filed April 25, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 F/G. /3. F 6 Z 55 //4 has/we) C. $000140 By M A! Jan. 9, 1945. H. c. eooowm ,7

TIME CONTROLLED SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR RADIO RECEIVERS Filed April 25, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Avwszv TOR HENRY C. Gooowuv Ww QM 147' mRA/E y Patented Jan. 9, 1945 TIME CONTROLLED SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR RADIO RECEIVERS Henry C. Goodwin, Galveston, Tex.

Application April 25, 1942, Serial No. 440,442

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 11 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to time-clock controlled apparatus for radio receivers.

One object of my invention is to provide a preselecting apparatus for a radio receiver, by means of which a pre-selected program may be tuned in automatically at the receiver for'the duration of the program. 1

Another object of my invention is to pre-set the tuning adjustments of a receiver for a desired pre-selected program, and to pro-set the starting and stopping points of that pre-selected program.

In order to selectively tune in a desired future program, I provide an auxiliary condenser, for the tuning circuit, with characteristics identically corresponding to the characteristics of the main condenser of the tuning circuit, so the tuning position of the auxiliary condenser, when indicated on the main dial of the receiver, will correspond to the same tuning position of the main condenser.

With such an auxiliary condenser the tuning condition of the receiver can be pre-set without interfering with the immediate operation of the receiver, and, at the same time, the proper tuning condition can be established for the frequency of the desired future program.

Suitable time-clock controlled t e r m in a l switches are provided to co-operatively control an operating circuit for a transfer switch, which operates to disconnect the main condenser and to substitute the auxiliary condenser in the tuning circuit. Each terminal switch is arranged to be cqntrolled by an adjustably positionable cam, that is positioned to be controlled by a clockoperated mechanism at a pro-selected time, thereby to control the starting and the stopping of the selected program.

The construction of the selector mechanism, embodying my invention, and the manner in which it operates, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of the selector apparatus;

Figure 2 is a schematic view, illustrating the mechanical arrangement of the various elements for tuning the main condenser;

Figure 3 is a similar schematic view, illustrating the functional arrangement of the elements for adjusting the auxiliary condenser, with the adjustment indicator related to the same indicating dial as in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an exploded side sectional View, illustrating the functional arrangement of the various elements for selectively positioning the program starting and stopping cams;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the starting cams;

Figure 6 is a plan View of the stopping cams;

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view through the selector, showing the relation between the switch-lifter and the associated cams;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view through the selector, showing the disposition of the starting and the stopping switches, on the timing gear;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the switc lifter;

Figure l0 is a perspective view of the two camoperating gears;

Figure 11 is a side elevational view of a portion of the timing gear, showing the construction and the disposition of one of the switches;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a rider or side-arm on the switch stem for operating a switch;

Figure 13 is a schematic plan view showing the relationship of a cam, a switch, and the switch-lifter; and

Figure 14 is a diagram of the circuit controlled by the timing switches to eifect the substitution of the auxiliary condenser in the tuning circuit.

Figure 15 is front view of the dial structure.

Figure 16 is a vertical cross-section on line [6-46 of Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a side view, partially in elevation, and partially in section, of the selector apparatus, the condensers and the indicators. The arrangement and the co-operative relationship of the parts will be understood better in connection with the following description of the other figures:

As shown schematically in Figure 2, the normal tuning elements are illustrated, simply, as comprising a tuning knob II on a shaft l2, to operate a gear 13 that meshes with a gear I4, which latter is on a shaft [5 for the main condenser IS. The condenser shaft l5 also carries an indicating pointer 11 that cooperates with a main indicating dial l8, to show the relative position of the condenser and to indicate the corresponding station or frequency to which the circuit is tuned at that position of the condenser.

In Figure 3, the various auxiliary elements are illustrated that operate the auxiliary condenser,

by means of which a future program may be selected, to be tuned in at some later time.

As shown in Figure 8, an adjustin knob 2|, on a shaft 22, rotates a gear 23. Gear 23 meshes with a gear 24 on a shaft 25. Gear 24, in addition to rotating the shaft 25, also meshes with a gear 28 that is here illustrated as being part of, or formed on, a ring 21 that carries an indicator or pointer 28, that cooperates with the same main dial or scale l8 which shows the adjustment or position of the main condenser |6, in Figure 2. The shaft 25 also carries a gear 29 that meshes with a gear 30 on the shaft 3| of the auxiliary condenser 32.

After the auxiliary condenser 32 has been preset to tune in a pre-determined frequency, the timing equipment is pre-set to control the starting point and the terminating point for that pre-selected program or frequency. That timing equipment is shown schematically and functionally in Figure 4, as an exploded view of the corre. sponding part of Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 4, a time-starting adjusting knob 4| is mounted on a shaft 42 driving a gear 48. Gear 43 meshes with a gear 44 on a shaft 45 which supports and drives two other gears 46 and 41.

Gear 45 operates a time-indicating pointer, and gear 41 operates a gear train to position the starting cam. Pointer gear 46, shown in Figure 1, meshes with a gear 48, fitted on, or made part of, a ring 49, which carries and operates an indicating pointer 58 that is movable with respect to a clock face The cam gear 41, in the gear train controlled by the starting knob 4i, meshes with a gear 52, arranged to be keyed on a cam-operating gear 54 that is loose on a supporting shaft 53. The gear 54 operates a cam 55 whose function is to control the operation of the starting switch 55, and the time of the closure of that switch.

The cam-operating gear 54 also controls a switch-lifter 51 to permit free adjustment of the cam 55 past the switch 55.

In order that the switch-lifter 51 may function properly, it must be caused to move a short distance in advance of the cam-operating gear 54, when the latter is rotated in a forward direction. In that direction, the switch-lifter 51 must raise the switch 58 out of the way of the cam ledge. In the reverse direction such lifting action on the switch is unnecessary, since the cam surface changes gradually.

In order to cause such advance movement of the switch lifter 51, ahead of the cam-operating gear 54, that cam-operating gear 54 drives two idler pinions 58 and 59, to angularly advance the switch lifter 51, before gear 54 acts directly on the starting cam 55 through an integral arcuate segment 5| mounted concentrically on the side of gear 54, and disposed to fit into a slot 50 in the cam 55,

The idlers 58 and 58 are small rubber discs, and are respectively rotatably disposed On pivot shafts 52 and 63 that are supported on, and secured to, the cam 55.

As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the switch lifter 51 floats loosely on an extended hub section 54@ of cam operating gear 54. That gear 54 frictionally engages idler 58 and rotates idler 58 to rotate the other idler 59 which engages the under surface of the peripheral ring 51a of the switchlifter 51, and oscillates the switch-lifter through a small angle to lift the arm of its cooperating terminal switch 58 out of the path of the control cam 55 during the time when the cam is being selectively positioned for future automatic operation.

The cam operator gear 54 embodies the arouate segment 8|, disposed on the side wall of the gear 54 concentrically with the gear axis. That arcuate segment 8| serves as a driving element for the starting control cam 55, which controls the operation of the program starting switch 56. The driving arcuate segment is made to subtend an are at least seven and one-half degrees less than the arc subtended by the slot 68 in the cam 55. That space provides the lost motion necessary to permit and enable the switch-lifter to be moved the desired distance in advance of the cam during adjustments of the cams in their timing positions.

Figure 4 shows also how the termination point of the pre-selected program is similarly controlled and pie-determined by an adjustable gear train and a cam 16.

In Figure 4, a program-stop adjustin knob 1| is mounted on a shaft 12, that carries two gears 18 and 14. Gear 13 controls a time-indicating pointer 15, and gear 14 controls a gear train to the stop cam 18. As shown in Figure 1, the gear 13 meshes with a gear 11 on a shaft 18 that carries a second gear 19 meshing with a gear 88 that is mounted on or made part of a ring 8| that carries the indicating pointer 15 that co-operates with the clock face 5| to indicate the cut-off terminal position of the time interval of the pre-selected program.

The cam-control gear 14 on the shaft 12 with the adjustin knob 1|, meshes with a gear 82 on a shaft 83 that carries a second gear 84 meshing with a gear 85 that is arranged to be keyed to a cam-operating gear 86 that is loose on the supporting shaft 53. That gear 86 embodies an integral arcuate segment 81 that fits into a similarly shaped arcuate slot 88 in the cut-off or stop cam 16, that is provided to operate the cutoff switch 98 to control the termination of the operating interval of the pre-selected program.

As in the case of the cam for the starting switch, the stop cam 16 carries two pivot shafts 92 and 93, for two idlers 94 and 95, to operate a switchlifter 95 for the cut-off switch 90.

In addition to the elements already described in Figures 1 and 4, a ring or circular shelf 98 is provided for a timin gear I00. The ring shelf 98 may be mounted on either cam 55 or 16, and is shown by way of example, mounted on cam 55. Ring shelf 98 also serves as a spacer between the two cams.

The timing gear I00 carries the starting switch 6 and the cut-off switch 98; and also carries two conducting slip rings IUI and H12 to permit electrical connections to be made to the two switches from an external circuit, through contact brushes I03 and I114. The timing gear I00 is driven by a pinion I85, and a motor I06.

In each switch, as shown in Figure 11, the contacts are controlled by a spring-biassed stem HI, mounted for axial motion between two guide plates HI and H2 supported on gear I08. starting switch 58 is constructed to be held normallp open by its cam 55; and the cut-off switch 98 is constructed to be held normally closed by its cam 16. Each switch operates to its reverse or opposite position, when it moves past, the drops over the ledge I44 of its cam, shown in Figures 5, 6 and '7. That operation, in each case, is effected by a biasing spring H5, reacting against the rear guide plate I and pressing forward on a The i pressure plate I I6, pinned to, or otherwise secured onto, the switch stem H0. The upper end of the stem of switch 56 carries an arm or rider H9; and the upper end of the stem of switch 96 carries the arm or rider 9I, as in Figure 12.

Each arm or rider extends laterally,-parallel to the axisof rotation of timing gear I00, over the face of its associated cam, and beyond the cam to a short distance into the path of the associated switch-lifter 51 or 96.

In order to balance out the stresses of the biassing springs of the two switches 56 and 90, the switches are preferably disposed on diametrically opposite sides of the axis of timing gear I00. For symmetry and ease of assembly, the two switches are also disposed on opposite sidesof the central plane of the timing gear I; consequently, the cams are also disposed with their ledges diametrically opposite.

In order to prevent rotational shifting of the cams by the frictional contact of the switch arms or riders 9I and H9 against the associated cam faces, each cam is provided with a holding and positioning ring I2I, that has equally spaced depressions I22 in its periphery, into which a springbiased stop I23 extends. The spring is sufiicient to hold the cam against causal displacement by the switch-riders, but not against a manual set ting operation. The spacing between centers of the depressions I22 is so related to the gear train ratios, as to correspond to a time interval of fifteen minutes, with each depression center disposed to correspond to the beginning of a fifteenminute interval.

The ledge of the cam, and each switch-rider, and the timing gear and its drive, are so related that the rider will drop off the ledge at the beginning of a fifteen-minute interval. The cam is held in stable stopped position b its stop in one of the grooves I22.

As shown in the schematic exploded view of Figure 4, the cam elements 55 and 16 are loosely mounted on the supporting and centering shaft 53. The force applied to adjusting knob 4| rotates gear 52, which is keyed to cam-operating gear 54 and therefore operates that gear 54, and moves cam 55 with it. When the cam 55 is moved clockwise, as viewed Figure 7, the switch-lifter 51 lift the switch arm or rider H9, bp means of the inclined front corner edge I25, so the cam 55 can move under and clear the arm.

To enable the switch-lifter 51, by starting switch 56, to move in advance of the cam actuation by the cam-operating gear 54, the idler gears 58 and 59 move the switch-lifter 51 through an angle of seven and one-half degrees before the arc segment 6|, On cam-actuating gear 54, operatively engages the front wall of the slot 60 in the cam 55, into which the arc segment 6| extends.

In similar manner, the switch-lifter 96 for the cut-off switch 90 is controlled by the idlers 94 and 95, to raise the switch 90 out of the way of cam 16 when the cam 16 is to be selectively positioned.

As shown in Figure 7, and in Figure .13, the side arm 51-a of the switch lifter 51 is nested in an arcuate space in the ring I2I of the cam 55. That space subtends an angle sufficient to accommodate the switch-lifter, plus a space of at least seven and one-half degrees to permit some lost motion between the switch-lifter and the ring I2I of cam 55. The switch-lifter 51 is normally biased to its rear position by a spring I29 on the cam 55, and may be advanced through the angle of 7 degrees, without movement of cam 55, to enable inclined surface I25 to slide under the side-arm, or rider, I I9 attached to the operating stem of start switch 56. That side-arm H9 is thus raised out of the way of the ledge I I4 of cam 55, so the cam may be moved clock-wise past the switch side arm H9. The biasing spring I29 then restores the switch lifter 51 to normal back position against the ring I2I of cam 55.

By means of the arrangement shown in Figure 4, the switch-lifter 51 may be slipped over the hub extension of cam-operating gear 54 before the gear 52 is keyed onto cam-operating gear 54.

Each switch-lifter operates its own switch arm to raise that arm out of the way of the associated cam ledge, thus permitting free rotation in either direction for adjustments.

As already explained, the two cams 55 and 16 are oppositely disposed on the supporting shaft 53. The cam surfaces have the contours shown in Figures 5 and 6. As indicated in Figure 5, the cam edge of large diameter on cam 55 extends a full half-circle, while the large diameter cam edge of cam 16 extends through an are that is seven and one-half degrees short of a halfcircle.

The cams are respectively positioned, as desired, and are held against casual displacement by the spring-biased stop plungers I23 extending into the grooves I22 in the cam rings I2I.

The timing action i then controlled bp the movement of the switches around the cam circles, by the timing gear I00, operated by the clock m0- tor I06. As previously explained, and as shown in Figure 11, starting switch 56 is normally held open by its cam, and closes when the switch arm 9I or H9 drops over the cam ledge H4.

The switch arm 9|, shown in more detail in Figure 12, embodiesa head portion 9 I a, secured to the top of the operating stem, and a side-arm or lifting portion 9I-b, which rides over the cam edge surfaces and controls the position of the switch 56.

As shown in Figure 11, the switch 56 is held in raised position, with contacts open, by the sidearm 9Ib resting on the high arc 55a of cam When the side arm moves over the ledge H4 of cam 55, the side 9I-b is dropped to the low arc 55-b of cam 55, by the biasing spring H5, and the switch contacts are closed.

The closure of starting switch 56 completes an energizing circuit to the operating coil of a transfer switch, that is thereupon operated to disconnect the main condenser I6, and to substitute the auxiliary condenser 32 in the tuning circuit. That condition continues until the timing gear is moved around to bring the arm of the cut-off switch to the ledge of cut-off cam 16. The switch 96 is held in its normal closed position. When the switch arm H9-b drops oif the high are of cam 16, switch 90 is moved to its open position, to open the circuit of the coil of transfer switch, whereupon the transfer switch operates to disconnect the auxiliary condenser and to reconnect the main condenser to the tunning circuit.

In order to insure proper control of the transfer switch by operating only one timing switch at any one time, the two cams are shaped as shown in Figures 5 and 6, with, one cam having a short overlapping interval, thereby assuring operation of either switch while the other switch is still held in position. Thereby positive make and break of the control circuit is assured.

By means of the indicating pointer 50, the time of the starting'opera'tion is shown. Likewise, by the pointer I5, the time of termination is shown, on the face 5i, of the clock that is operated by the clock motor I06. For simplicity, in Figure 1, only the gears I 30 and I3I are shown, that support the minute hand I32 and the hour hand I33.

Figure shows the face of the clock dial 5I, the minute hand I32, the hour hand I33, the starting indicating pointer'50 and the stopping indicating pointer I5.

Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view on line I6--I6 of Figure 1, and shows the spacing of shafts 42 and 12 and the way in which gears 43 and I4 mesh with the gears 44 and 82 so as to drive gears 52 and 85 respectively upon manual adjustment of the knob 4| and II which are seen in Figure l.

I claim:

1. In combination with a radio receiving set provided with a main tuning condenser, a fre quency pro-selector, said pre-selector comprising an auxiliary condenser arranged to be customarily manually operated to pro-select a station having a tuning range substantially the same as said main tuning condenser; and time-clock controlled means for substituting theauxiliary condenser for the main condenser whe a pr'e-selected frequency is to be tuned in.

2. In combination with a radio receiving set provided with a main tuning condenser, a frequency pro-selector, said pre-selector comprising an auxiliary condenser having a tuning range substantially the same as said main tuning condenser; manually adjustable means for rapidly pie-setting the auxiliary condenser, separately from the main condenser, to a position to tune in a pre-selected frequency; and time-clock controlled means for disconnecting the main condenser and connecting in the auxiliary condenser.

3. In combination with a radio receiving set provided with a main tuning condenser, a frequency pro-selector, said pre-selector comprising an auxiliary condenser having a tuning range substantially the same as said main tuning condenser; manually adjustable means for rapidly pro-setting the auxiliary condenser, separately from the main condenser, to a position to tune in a pre-selected frequency; and time-clock controlled means for disconnecting the main condenser and connecting in the auxiliary condenser. comprising a transfer switch for connecting either condenser to the receiving set circuits; and timeclock controlled means for operating the transfer switch to connect one condenser to the receiving circuits, and for controlling the duration of that connection.

4. In combination with a radio receiving set provided with a main tuning condenser, a frequency pie-selector, said pre-selector comprising an auriliary condenser having a tuning range substantially the same as said main tuning condenser; readily manually adjustable means for customarily pie-setting the auxiliary condenser, separately from the main condenser, to a position to tune in a pro-selected frequency; and time-clock controlled means for disconnecting the main condenser and connecting in the auxiliary condenser, comprising a starting switch; a se; rate cut-off switch; and means controlled by 3.16 two switches for effecting the connecting and the disconnecting operations 5. In combination with a radio receiving set provided with a main tuning condenser, a frequency pre-selector, said pro-selector comprising an auxiliary condenser having a tuning range substantially the same as said main turning condenser; readily manually adjustable means for customarily pre-setting the auxiliary condenser,.

separately from the main condenser, to a position to tune in a pre-selected frequency; and timeclock controlled means for disconnecting the main condenser and connecting in the auxiliary condenser, comprising a starting switch; a separate cut-off switch; a cam for controlling the operation of each switch; a timing means with an indicating face; and means for pre-settlng the time point of operative effectiveness of each cam on its switch relative to a selected time setting on said face.

6. In combination with a radio receiving set provided with a main tuning condenser, a frequency pre-selector, said pro-selector comprising an auxiliary condenser having a tuning range substantially the same as said main tuning condenser; readily manually adjustable means for customarily pre-setting the auxiliary condenser, separately from the main condenser, to a. position to tune in a pre-selected frequency; and time-clock controlled means for disconnecting the main condenser and connecting in the auxiliary condenser, comprising a starting switch; a separate cut-off switch; a cam for controlling the operation of each switch; a timing means with an indicating face; means for pre-setting the time point of operative effectiveness of each cam on its switch relative to a selected time setting on said face; and switching means controlled by each cam for controlling the starting and the stopping points of the selected time interval for connecting the auxiliary condenser to the receiver.

7. In combination with a radio receiving set provided with a main tuning condenser, timeclock controlled selector apparatus, saidapparatus comprising an auxiliary condenser having a tuning range substantially the same as said main tuning condenser; an indicating dial to show the receiver setting; means for pre-setting the auxiliary condenser independently of the main condenser, with an indicator related to the indicating dial to show the auxiliary condenser setting; a transfer switch for disconnecting the main condenser from the receiver circuit, and substituting the auxiliary condenser in that circuit; an electric control circuit to energize and to operate the transfer switch; a start switch and a stop switch for the control circuit; means for separately positioning each switch along a timing path; and a time-clock controlled switch operator movable along said path to operate the switches for starting and for stopping operations, thereby to control the energization of the control circuit for, and the consequent operation of, the transfer switch.

8. An automatic radio station selector comprising, a radio receiver, tuning apparatus forming a part of said receiver, manually adjustable means for moving said tuning apparatus to various positions soon to tune the receiver to different stations, electric circuit connections controlling the connection into and disconnection from operative position of said tuning apparatus, a starting switch forming a part of said circuit connections, a stopping switch forming another part of said circuit connections, manually adjustable cam means controlling the operations of said switches, and manually operated switch lifters mechanically interconnected with said cam means so as to lift said switches off said cams and thereby :permit operation of said cam means in either direction.

9. A frequency pre-selector for a radio-receiving set provided with a main tuning condenser,

said pro-selector comprising: an auxiliary condenser having a corresponding adjustment curve; readily manually adjustable means for customarily pre-setting the auxiliary condenser, separately from the main condenser, to a position to tune in a pro-selected frequency; and time-clock controlled means for disconnecting the main condenser and connecting in the auxiliary condenser, comprising, a starting switch; a separate stopping switch; a pair of cams each controlling the operation of one of said switches; timing means for moving said switches and thereby controlling the time of operation of each of said switches; manually operable means for presetting the time point of operative effectiveness of each cam on its switch; and switch lifting means provided with a limited amount of lost motion relative to said manually operable means to lift either of said switches before the cam controlled thereby is moved and thus allow movement of said manually operable means in either direction.

10. In a time-clock controlled selector mechanism for a radio receiver having a manually adjustable tuning element: an electric circuit arranged to connect said tuning element into operative condition and to disconnect it therefrom, a plurality of switches forming parts of said circuit, a plurality of cams each adapted to control the operation of one of said switches, a plurality of cam-operating gears each having a limited amount of lost motion relative to one of said cams and arranged, after making said lost motion, to thereafter operate said cam, to a position to set the time of operation of said switch, and a plurality of switch-lifters each mechanically connected to one of said cam-operating gears so as to be moved thereby, during said lost motion, and thus to lift the co-operating switch off the cam which controls the said switch.

11. Means for turning on' a radio receiver which has been tuned to a selected station and for turning it oif again, said means comprising a tuning mechanism forming part of said receiver, an auxiliary tuning mechanism forming another part of said receiver, and having substantially the same characteristics as the first, a manually rotatable knob having mechanical connection with said auxiliary timing mechanism so as to tune it, an electric switch and circuit arrangements whereby said switch connects one tuning mechanism to the receiver and disconnects the other, electro-magnetic means arranged to shift said switch from one position to the other, a normally-closed switch and a normally-open switch connected in circuit with said electro-magnetic means, cams controlling the opening and closing of said normally-open and said normally-closed switches, manually operable means for separately adjusting the points at which said cams cause said switches to operate, and motor means providing relative movement between said cams and the co-operating switches.

HENRY C. GOODWIN. 

